The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has allocated over $9.39 million to support five projects focused on beach and dune renourishment in coastal areas of the state.
Governor Josh Stein commented on the importance of these efforts, stating, “The coastline is one of our state’s natural treasures and serves as the livelihood of many communities in eastern North Carolina. These grants will help preserve our state’s beauty, protect people’s livelihoods, and keep communities safe.”
Funding for these projects comes from the Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund. The approved proposals include:
– Dare County: Buxton nourishment ($3.6 million)
– Town of Oak Island: Beach nourishment ($3 million)
– Dare County: Avon Beach nourishment ($2 million)
– Carteret County: Bogue Banks 2025-2026 beach nourishment design ($663,537)
– Currituck County: Beach management plan ($120,568)
All five applications submitted by coastal communities were awarded funding. In addition to the state grants, local governments are contributing more than $44 million in matching funds to support these initiatives.
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson highlighted the significance of these projects for local communities. “This funding will help coastal communities protect natural resources that are essential to their quality of life and economies,” Wilson said. “By restoring beaches and dunes, the projects will also make these communities more resilient to future storms.”
Project applications were evaluated based on six criteria: environmental benefits, social benefits, economic benefits, project lifespan, financial resources, and project efficiency. Further details about these criteria can be found on the department’s website.
The Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund receives its financing from the North Carolina General Assembly through Session Law 2023-134. The fund supports costs related to beach nourishment, artificial dunes, and other measures designed to mitigate or repair storm damage along ocean beaches and dune systems across North Carolina.
For additional information about the application process or specific projects, contact Kevin Hart at the Division of Water Resources by phone at 919-707-3607 or email at Kevin.Hart@deq.nc.gov.
